Early Identification (Red Flags)

Love Bombing and Idealization

One of the most powerful and seductive warning signs at the beginning of a relationship with a narcissistic profile is the breakneck speed at which the bond progresses.

Unlike the organic development of intimacy, a phenomenon known as "love bombing" is present here.

The individual displays overwhelming romantic intensity from the first encounters, declaring a deep love or sense of shared destiny ("we are soul mates") long before actually meeting the other person. This tactic seeks to generate an artificially quick connection.

Imagine someone who, after just two dates, is already booking a joint vacation for next summer or talking about names for future children.

While it may feel flattering, it's a critical "red flag": if it seems too perfect and premature, it's probably a façade.

The goal is to hook the victim emotionally before they can see the cracks in the mask of perfection.

Egocentrism, arrogance and chronic victimhood.

As the relationship progresses, the focus inevitably shifts to the narcissist.

Their conversation is often dominated by accounts of their own successes, talents or exceptional qualities, often exaggerated or fabricated. However, this grandiosity has a dark counterpart: victimhood.

When they narrate their past, they invariably present themselves as the innocent and wronged party.

It is revealing to observe how they describe their ex-partners or former bosses; if everyone in their background is described as "crazy," "evil," or "traitorous," it is a clear indication of an inability to take personal responsibility. They never admit fault.

If a work project failed, it was not because of their mistake, but because of the incompetence of their colleagues or the envy of their superiors.

This pattern of always blaming external factors or third parties for any misfortune is a rigid defense to protect their fragile ego.

In addition, they often show subtle or overt arrogance towards those they consider inferior, such as being rude to service personnel, revealing their true character.

Narcissistic parents: The child as an extension of the ego

In the family setting, narcissism manifests itself in devastating ways in parenting.

The narcissistic parent does not see his or her child as an autonomous individual with his or her own wants and needs, but as an extension of himself or herself, an accessory to his or her own validation. This can take two extreme forms.

On the one hand, over-involvement: the parent who brags about his child's athletic accomplishments as if they were his own, pushing him to fulfill frustrated adult dreams regardless of what the child wants.

On the other hand, competitive marginalization: if the child excels too much and threatens to outshine the parent, he or she may be subject to destructive criticism or invalidation ("yo